The Cyprus national flag consisting of a white field (background) showing a yellow silhouette of Cyprus above two green olive branches.  Its width-to-length ratio is 3 to 5.

For centuries Cyprus was part of the Ottoman Empire and flew Turkish flags. By agreement with the Turkish sovereign, however, the British assumed administrative control of the island in 1878 and subsequently flew the Union Jack there.

During World War I the island was annexed by the British, and other colonial flags were then introduced. For example, to the British Red Ensign was added a badge with two lions; this was supposedly the symbol of King Richard I of England, who in 1191 became ruler of Cyprus as part of his involvement in the Crusades.

The local Cypriots, however, had no attachment to British symbols; the Cypriot Greeks and Turks looked respectively to the Greek and Turkish national flags as their own.

The current flag was adopted 16 August 1960 by the then President of the Republic, Mgr Makarios, after a proposal made by a school teacher who brought him a message from the Vice-President Fazil Küçük.

For those who like titbits, in 2006 the Cyprus Mail (local English newspaper) reported that İsmet Guney, the Turkish Cypriot artist and teacher who designed the Cyprus flag is seeking payment plus compensation for copyright usage from the government, 46 years after Archbishop Makarios chose his design to represent the new Republic of Cyprus. I'm not aware if İsmet Guney got his money.

Also Cyprus is the only country to represent its land area on the official flag. The Cyprus flag shows the entire island, with two crossed green olive branches symbolizing hope for peace between the Turks and Greeks. The map on the Cyprus flag is in copper-yellow color, representing the large deposits of copper ore found on the island.

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